The Mombasa County Government is constructing five new sub-county hospitals in a bid to decongest Coast Provincial General Hospital (CPGH).
The new hospitals; Marimani, Vikwathani, Chaani, Mrima and Mtongwe will cost the taxpayer Sh375 million.
Three of the facilities will be commissioned in two months' time.
“We hope the new hospitals are going to decongest the Coast General Hospital, which is currently stretched beyond capacity,” county chief officer for Health Services Dr Khadija Shikelly said yesterday.
However, Dr Khadija said plans to build a sub-county hospital at Kongowea had been halted following a land dispute.
CPGH, the main referral hospital in the coastal region, is facing an influx of patients following its recent refurbishment.
Though it is in Mombasa County, the hospital also serves Kwale, Kilifi, Tana River, Lamu and Taita Taveta counties.
Cancer and dialysis
Last year, the hospital's chief administrator Dr Iqbal Khandwalla observed that between 700 and 800 patients visit the hospital daily.
The congestion heightened after services at the hospital were improved and expanded.
This followed the establishment of cancer and dialysis units, open heart and neurosurgeries, among other specialised services.
The maternity section of the hospital is also crowded, as many more women prefer to deliver there.
There is a plan to further improve the referral hospital through a joint effort of the six counties under their umbrella Jumuiya ya Kaunti za Pwani.
The CPGH cancer treatment centre was built through a partnership between Bamburi Cement Limited and Mombasa County government. Between 80 and 100 new cancer cases are handled the centre monthly.
The centre has reduced pressure on the other two public cancer treatment facilities in the country - Kenyatta National Hospital and Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret.
The hospital has specialised cancer treatment machines and equipment, including a chemotherapy hood and seven chemotherapy chairs.
Director of medical services Jackson Kioko, who opened the cancer centre, said plans were on course to equip the facility with radiotherapy machines to ensure cancer patients in the region receive comprehensive treatment.
“Further, plans are underway to construct an additional cancer hospital through the support of the Government of India,” said Dr Kioko.
He said under the National Cancer Control Strategy, the Government might introduce gymnasiums in offices and encourage walking to reduce incidences of non-communicable diseases.
